Page 59 - LHR November 2025

New Speed Triple RS gets more power and tech
and takes over as Triumph’s sporty flagship

A er experimen ng with the faired Speed Triple 1200RR, Triumph
has returned to its naked roots with the new Speed Triple 1200RS.
Essen ally, it's a reimagined version of last year's RR — offering a
modest boost in power and torque, upgraded suspension, several
subtle refinements, and, notably, no front fairing. With the RR now
discon nued, it seems its sales never truly gained trac on.
The previous 1200RS used manually adjustable suspension, but
this new model debuts Öhlins' latest EC3 semi-ac ve system — the
same advanced setup found on Honda's Fireblade SP. Unlike the
older EC2's needle valve, the EC3 uses a spool valve that reacts
faster and provides a wider adjustment range. “The extra range
means we can dial in even more comfort,” says Triumph's Chief
Engineer, Stuart Wood. “It's listed as 'Cruise Support' in the menu.
For a sportsbike, the 1200RS offers remarkable comfort — and
when you want performance, it's instantly available.” Triumph
claims that, in its so est mode, the ver cal force transmi ed
through the suspension is reduced by an impressive 78.7%.
Like the EC2 system, EC3 lets riders specify how they want the
suspension to behave instead of manually adjus ng compression
and rebound damping. “Instead of adjus ng damping and hoping it
gives you what you wanted,” Wood explains, “you tell the bike
what you want — more support mid-corner or under braking —
and the system works it out. It's like having a race technician built
into the bike.”
The OBTi (Objec ve Based Tuning Interface) so ware divides
suspension control into seven parameters: front firmness, rear
firmness, braking, accelera on, ini al accelera on, cornering, and
cruising. Each can be adjusted from -5 to +5 using sliders on the 5-
inch TFT display, controlled via Triumph's familiar joys ck on the
le switchgear. A new four-stage an -wheelie system also allows
fine-tuning of front-wheel li .
Beneath the tank, the 1160cc triple engine has been retuned to
meet updated emissions standards while adding 3bhp and 2.2 lb-
of torque. “We've refined it not only for power but also for
smoother thro le response and be er efficiency,” says Wood. A
redesigned exhaust improves gas flow and centralises mass while
remaining fully compliant.

59 NOVEMBER EDITION 2025